Is Your Shoulder Freezing Up?

Published on September 3, 2019

Shoulder pain can be debilitating. You may have looked at surgical options but were put off by the painful, costly procedure and long recovery. You use your shoulder constantly and may not realise how much you need it to function well until it’s too late. If you have frozen shoulder, it’s completely locked up. Usually, it’s the result of longstanding injury or dysfunction. Most commonly, there is an imbalance in the shoulder girdle, which links directly to the function of your neck.

The warning signs that you may be developing a frozen shoulder include:

Pain in the neck

Pain in the trapezius

Pins and needles

A sharp, pulling pain when you move your shoulder

A shoulder that appears further forward than the other

Why Your Shoulder is Prone to Injury

The unique anatomy of your shoulder means that it may be easily injured. Unlike your hip, it doesn’t have a deep socket for the ball joint to sit in. This shallow socket is largely supported by muscles around your shoulder girdle. If there is irritation in the nerves of the neck or upper back, the nerve supply to those muscles is changed, creating an imbalance.

Your shoulder may be further aggravated by postural issues resulting from being on the computer, driving and the use of personal devices. You may have heard of ‘tech neck,’ or neck problems related to sitting at a screen and typing all day. It overuses your pectoral muscles, which will in turn inflame the bicep tendon. The rotator cuff in your shoulder is trying to stabilise the area but the tension in the pectoral muscle is too great. Your rotator cuff may be more prone to tears.

All of these effects lead to irritation that causes the AC joint in the shoulder to become inflamed. Ultimately, it’s this joint that leads to frozen shoulder.

Addressing the Cause of Your Problem

The primary and secondary causes of frozen shoulder must be addressed to find a true resolution. The AC joint has to be rehabilitated. We also need to work on changing the scar tissue that has built up around the rotator cuff, bicep tendon and pectoral muscles. At the same time, your neck will reflexively become irritated. We’ll ensure your neck has normal mechanics and nerve function so that the same unhealthy patterns aren’t reproduced.

Learn more about how we may be able to help you. Contact Family Health Professionals Helensvale today!